I love Great Britain and one of the things that I enjoy most about spending time with family and friends there is the Aga ranges. Do you know what I am talking about? The beautiful ranges that take center stage in each kitchen and keep it and you nice and toasty warm on a cold Fall afternoon. This week on Remodelista they featured these quintessential cast iron enamel ranges, and I wanted one of each!

Image from The French Basketeer

I also love France and always enjoy when a fellow blogger shares their French home. This week Andrea from The French Basketeer shared a glimpse inside her house in Beaune. Be sure to visit her beautiful blog for spectacular recipes, party ideas and travel tips.

Image from Helen Tilston

Helen Tilston one of my favorite bloggers is back in her native Ireland visiting and painting and this week she featured a painted a wonderful painting of another favorite blogger Pamela of From the House of Edward. Incidentally, Pamela is visiting Scotland right now but she has one of her always interesting "lists" posted this week and I think you might friend a book or something to enjoy.

I always enjoy new twists on old favorite desserts and this Cannoli Tart from Tasty Kitchen is one of my newest discoveries. I cannot wait to make this next week. The only problem is that I know I will not have any will power to eat just one piece, which is the up side of going to the bakery and ordering only one cannoli, when it is gone, it is gone.

Have you seen The Last of the Unjust? It is an excellent documentary about Theresienstad, "the model ghetto" during the Holocaust.

Last but not least, this is my favorite thing from my week. This was the invitation that my niece received to Homecoming. It was the first slide of the Power Point presentation in Theology class yesterday. Isn't it sweet?

I hope that you have a fabulous weekend, be safe and enjoy some time with family and friends. I know that is what I will be doing.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Good morning! I hope that you are having a fabulous week so far. I am having a great week but I have a big weekend planned so I am counting the days until Friday.

Typically, I do not eat breakfast but on a cool day I feel like I need something to get me going. Often it is oatmeal with cinnamon and brown sugar but on the weekends when I have time I like to make something special, like coffee cake, waffles or cinnamon rolls. Oh and sometimes omelets and savory foods too just in case you think I only consume sweets.

This recipe is easy, the mixer does all the work and you can make them Saturday while you have a little time and then bake them Sunday morning for a treat. I mean, what is not to love about a yeasty roll, filled with cinnamon and sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting?

Dough Ingredients:

3/4 cup warm
water

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/3 cup oil

4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Filling:

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

6 tbsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsp cornstarch

1/8 tsp nutmeg

5 tablespoons unsalted butter melted

Frosting:

6 oz cream cheese at room temperature

11/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

1-5 tablespoons of milk

In the bowl of a freestanding mixer fitted with a dough hook, add water, yeast
and 1 tbsp of the sugar. Let stand for 10 minutes until the yeast starts to
froth and bubble. In medium bowl whisk together the buttermilk, egg and oil.
Add this to the yeast along with the rest of the sugar and mix until combined.
Pour in 2 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt and mix on low, gradually add
the rest of the flour to bowl and continue to mix on low. Knead for 5 minutes,
until the dough pulls away from the bowl. Place in a well oiled bowl, cover with
a damp towel and let proof for 2 hours in a draft free spot.

In a small bowl mix together the filling ingredients except for the butter and
set aside.

Roll the dough out into a rectangle and brush with melted butter, making sure
to leave 1 inch around the sides. Sprinkle filling mixture over the butter.
Tightly roll the dough from the longer side, like a jelly roll and pinch the
ends together to stop the filling from spilling out.

Cut dough every 11/2 inches. Place buns in a lined 9 x 13 in pan. Wrap pan in
plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Remove pan from
refrigerator, place on middle shelf in oven. Fill a pan with boiling water and
place on bottom shelf of oven. Turn on the over to 400 for 1 MINUTE! Set the timer, because you will forget. I know because I do it all the time. Then turn
off and let the buns raise until double in size, roughly or for 1/2 an hour.

Remove the water
and the buns from the oven and set aside.

Mix together the icing ingredients and set aside.

Preheat the oven
to 350 and bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown, watch the buns because this
could take less time than 30 minutes!

Frost with icing
and enjoy!

Tell me are you a big breakfast fan? Or do you find yourself calling coffee breakfast? If you have the time and would love to have an accompaniment to your coffee or tea than these cinnamon rolls are a "must do" during the next few months where the days are long and cold.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Although there are many reasons I love Fall, the changing weather and luscious colors, daylight savings, fires in the fireplace, the excuse to slow down and be lazy, my favorite things about fall is pumpkin!

Photo Pine Cones and Acorns

I cannot get enough pumpkin, The smell of pumpkin and the spices that often accompany it take me right back to my grandmothers kitchen. I can picture myself standing there eating scraps of pie dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar while I wait for the first pumpkin pie of the season to come out of the oven.

Photo Pine Cones and Acorns

I will tell you though, I do not limit myself to pumpkin pie during the "season" which for me begins September 1st and ends on Easter Sunday, I eat pancakes and waffles and doughnuts, cakes, bread, cookies, pastas, salads, soups and more.

Here are a few dessert recipes that I have on my Fall Pinterest board that I plan to make in the next few months. I will write another post of all my savory favorites using pumpkin later next week.

With the cooler temperatures there has been a wonderful assortment of comfort foods and Fall recipes for drinks, dinners and desserts. This week Heather Cristo featured Apple Cider Bourbon Punch, something new to add to your cocktail list along wassail and mulled cider.

Have you always wanted to make the perfect pie for the holidays? Now is your chance to learn all about crusts, fillings and more from Heather Cameron in her new series A Year of Pie. I think this is perfect timing to learn some new techniques for the upcoming holidays!

Etsy has many, many talented artists but have you seen the work by Eve's Imagination? If not check out the beautiful work created by Ruth Oosterman and her daughter Eve who is a toddler. Ruth writes the blog The Mischievous Mommy and you can see the collaborative effort of a budding artist and her mom.

Tell me, have you read anything great this week? Made anything scrumptious? Or have you been traveling to points unknown? If so, please share your finds and stories with us, we would love to hear about your adventures.

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Good morning! Last week was New York fashion week and while I love to see all of the bloggers, street fashion and the amazing clothing from the shows I must admit often times those clothes don't always fit my lifestyle.

Not to mention the fact that the shows were featuring clothes for Spring 2015 and we are heading into Fall/ Winter 2014.

Recently though I received a catalog via snail mail from Brooks Brothers and I found that this seasons traditional looks would suit almost anyone this Fall.

After all what is not to love about classic button down blouses, cable knit sweaters, hounds tooth jackets, plaid capes, scarfs and sweaters, a great quilted jacket and a pair of wellies?

Do you have a "go to" look for Fall? I personally favor white button down shirts, or white t-shirts with cashmere sweaters, riding boots or wellies, jeans and either a quilted Barbour or a camel colored coat and of course any chance I can I throw on a little plaid! I can never get enough plaid in my wardrobe.

All images taken by me of the latest Brooks Brothers catalog

What do you think? Does the classic style of these looks appeal to you are are you more hip and trendy? I would love to hear about your Fall/Winter wardrobe plans and if you found anything spectacular while perusing the clothing from New York Fashion Week.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Good morning! I hope that you had a wonderful weekend. My weekend was lazy, hot, rainy and humid and then overnight it was Fall. Sunday morning the air was crisp, there was a slight breeze, a lot more leaves across the porch and I could smell the faint hint of a wood fire in someones fireplace. Out with the shorts and t-shirts and in with the comfy yoga pants and fleece for the early morning walks in the snap of your fingers.

Cool weather makes me want to nest and bake! As I wanted to warm up the kitchen and keeping room without turning on the heat I thought a pie was in order. Nothing fancy but something comforting, easy and delicious, a coconut cream pie seemed to fit my mood. Luckily when I was reviewing Teeny Lamothe's cookbook , Teeny's tour of Pies last month I made a few extra pie crusts so I simply got one out of of the freezer, let it bake and set to work on the filling.

This pie is easy, if you do not have a homemade shell simply use store bought or perhaps even graham cracker crumbs. Then all you have to do is toast the coconut, make the pudding and top liberally with freshly whipped cream. In no time you have the perfect pie to relieve your sweet tooth.

Heat oven to 350. Spread coconut on baking sheet and toast for approximately 5 minutes or until golden brown. Watch the coconut and stir occasionally as it can burn fast.

In a medium sauce pan mix, the coconut milk, heavy cream, eggs, egg yolk, salt, flour and corn starch. Mix well. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. The mixture takes about 20-25 minutes to thicken. Make sure that you bring it to a full boil. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla bean paste and toasted coconut. Fill pie shell. Cover with plastic wrap and chill for at least 5 hours. Then top with sweetened, whipped heavy cream. Garnish with coconut.

I love this pie, it is sweet, creamy and nutty, the coconut taste is just right. The filling is very versatile in that you can swap out the coconut milk and just use the equal amount of milk, half and half or heavy cream and you have a neutral filling for banana cream pie, a pie topped with fresh berries or whatever else you can imagine.

What did you bake or make this weekend?

Is your weather cooling off? Do you feel Fall coming? Or did you have a little snow?

This week Di from Yonks and Mai Tai from Mai Tai's Picture Book have been visiting London and their adventures and photos are fabulous as always. A little fashion, a little food and some beautiful sights.

It time and money are no object you could go on a spectacular adventure to "ten sights like no other", from Petra, to Madagascar, to see the Northern Lights and the Terracotta Army and more, over a month long journey. Visit Very First To.com for more details on this once in a lifetime trip and many more!

For those of you who may be tailgating this weekend or just stuck in the house watching movies because of the rain, this Cheesy Chili Dip from Lindsey at Pinch of Yum looks and tastes delicious. Honestly anything that is cheesy and can be scooped up with chips is a winner in my book!

For something easy and sweet, try this Oreo Chocolate Fudge Cheesecake from Once Upon a Chocolate Life that I made last week! It is so fabulous you might want to make sure that you have someone to share it with because you may eat the whole thing in one sitting.

And last but not least, a little something to make you think and smile. Proof that one person can make a difference in the world, even when you have nothing! Click HERE for Kamala's story!

I hope that found something here of interest and as always, please share your finds from around the web! Have a wonderful weekend!

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